Selector device



R. C. CHILD SELECTOR DEVI'CE Nov. 3 i 1925.

Filed Dec. 8, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 1207,67! a. mad

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R. C. CHILD SELECTOR DEVICE Filed Dec. 8, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 4'2 veziar' 1205a; g Ck-e'Zd Z I M 4 y //7 wily;

Patented Nov. 3, 1925.

uuireo srarns PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT C. CHILD, OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE,ASSIGN-MENTS, TO THE LAMSON COM ANY, OF BOSTON, MASSAGHUSETTS,.A CORPORATION OFMASSACHUSETTS.

SELECTOR DEVICE.

Application filed December 8, 1921' Serial No. 520,877.

To all whom 2'25 may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT C. CHILD, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and resident of llroolzline, in the county of Nortoll: andState of li lassachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements inSelector Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to selector, assorting or separating devicesadapted to separate moving articles or bodies into different classes;for example, devices for assorting carriers moving in pneumatic despatchtubes so that one class of carrier takes one path and another classtakes another path. For instance, in pneumatic dcspatch tube systems,one class of carrier may be employed for cash transactions and a carrierof another class may be employed for credit tran actions, and it may bedesired to provide for deliveringthese classes oi carriers to ditterentdestinations. There have been sundry prior proposals of devices for thisgeneral purpose, none of which is altogether sat 1sfactory in respect tocompactness, simplicity and durability, or the certainty of operationand low cost connected by these qualities.

Objects oi the present invention are to provide an automatic separatordevice adapted certainly to deliver carriers of one class laterally ofthe path normally taken by them, and to permit carriers of the otherclass to pass unhindered toward their normal destination. Furtherobjects of the invention are to provide a device of this class operatingsolely by the energy of the moving carrier; having as few moving partsas pos sible', and which may be installed simply and expeditiously atany partof a pneumatic tube; and which shall be certain in operation.simple, durable, and inexpensive.

The invention will now be described in connection with certain speciesonly illustrating the genus of the invention. As

shown in the accompanying drawings,

Fig. l is a side elevation illustrating the idle or waiting-actionposition of the device and showing one class of carrier;

Fi 2 is a similar view, illustrating the u" of the parts when a carrierof the other lass is passing;

Fig 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. is a section on line l.4;of Fig. 1; F 5 is a view similar to l, but illu;-

trating a modification:

; and

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5.

When a despatch carrier is moving, either under an impressed velocity ordriven by an air current, and is traveling in the axial direction of atube such as shown at 1, interruption of the flight of the carrier by aprojection or abutment encountering the carrier at one side of itscenterof gravity (or center of pressure, when driven) serves to convertthe energy of translation into energy of rotation, resulting in arelatively strong tendency to rotate the carrier about the point of itscontact with such projection or abutment, the trailing end of thecarrier moving toward the opposite side of the tube from the position ofthe obstruction.

in accordance with the present invention this action is utilized toeject a carrier of one kind from the tube through a lateral openingprovided in the tube, as shown at 2 for example, by causing carriers ofthis class to encounter a normally rigid or fined but automaticallyremovable abutment device 3, adapted normally to stand at one side ofthe path taken by the center of gravity '(orpressure) of the carrier,for example, at one side of the tube and opposite the lateral openingQ.Whenever the abutment device 3 is positioned in the path of the carrier,any carrier, upon encountering the abutment, will be thrown laterally byits own momentum through the opening 2 in the direction of the arrow (6,Fig. 1.

In the preferred construction, the abutment device 3 is sullicientlywide to constitute a seat defining a chord. of the circular surface ofthe end of the carrier of substantial length. As best shown in Fig. 3,for instance, the abutment device 3 is formed as a lever comprisinglaterally spaced abutment elements providing the abutment surfaces 3, 3*respectively. Thislever preferably is made as a U-shaped casting orstamping having downwardly extending arms 3 and 3 and having an integralweb 3 uniting these abutment elements and lying in a plane slightlybelow the surfaces 3 and 3".

jecting from a frame or support presently end 10 can contact therewith.

to be described. The axis 5 is near the periphery of the tube 1, whilethe abutment surfaces 8*, 3 which receive the shock of the carriernormally lie justwithin the tube and substantially above such aXis. Asthus arranged, the center of figure of the lever lies between thevertical plane of its axis and the adjacent wall of the tube. Thetendency of the lever to swing toward the tube is limited by stop meansW, 27 presently described. Thus when subjected to the blow of a carrier,there is no component of the force of impact tending to swing the leveroutwardly from the tube, the residual of this force, on the contrary,tending to hold the abutment 3, 3 in place, so that the abutment isrigid when operative, and its proper function is assured. By reason ofthe very short moment arm through which such force acts, substantiallythe entire blow is transmitted lengthwise of the arms 3, 3 to the strongpivot screw 6. The device is thu. capable of withstanding repeatedshocks from heavy carriers without appreciable deterioration.

Since the carrier bottoms on the abutment at points lying in therespective surfaces 3*, 3 the turning movement of the carrier in thedirection of the arrow (b will take place accurately at right angles tothe line defined by these points of contact with the carrier head. Thedirection in which the carriers are ejected from the opening 2 is thusrelatively certain, being subject to slight variation only, due to sucheccentric displacement of the carrier in its tube as may occur, and thecarriers thrown through the opening 2 may be received in another tube, achute, basket, or other receptacle (not shown) and with little danger ofdisplacement or failure to deliver the carrier into such receptacle.

In the arrangement shown is provided that only such carriers as havehollow ends 9 shall be thrown through the aperture 2. Other carriershaving solid ends 10 as shown in Fig. 2 are designed to pass on throughthe continuation 1 of the tube 1. To accomplish this the abutment 3 iswithdrawn laterally through an aperture 12 in the tube 1 before any partof a carrier having a solid In the preferred construction shown, this isaccomplished by the employment of a detector lever arranged to rotateabout an axis 16 above and to the left of the axis 5, such levercomprising an operating member 17 terminating in a rounded contact point18 which is normally disposed substantially centrally of the tube 1 andwhich stands somewhat above the normal plane of the abutment surfaces 3,3.

In one form, the detector lever is of the angular or substantially Vshape shown, comprising the pivoted portion and the operating arm 17above referred to, the

latte-r arm being of substantially arcuate shape having its center ofcurvature at the axis 16. The member 15 is also preferably of curvedform as illustrated.

In order to actuate the abutment 3 the detector lever carries atransverse pin 20 preferably arranged at a point much nearer the axis 5than are the abutment surfaces 3*, 3. In the form illustrated in Figs. 1and 2 the detector lever is provided with a notch 21 adjacent to thejunction of the members 15 and 1'? thereof and outward of the pin 20,such notch serving to receive the bridge member 3 of the abutment at oneextreme position of the latter, to limit the motion of the leverabutment in one direc tion.

The parts are normally held in. the position shown in Fig. 1 by suitableresilient means, such for example as two light springs 25 hooked overpins in the arms 3, 3 respectively, and secured at their other ends tolugs 26 projecting from an upper member 27 of a frame or support for theabove described parts. Preferably this frame or support comprises theupper and lower retaining members 27, 28 respectively, rigidly connectedby an integral vertical strut such as 29 at each side of the tube. Thelower member 28 of the frame or support is provided at one side with thelugs 7 having aligned openings for the reception of the pivot screw 6,and is also furnished with the preferably integral binding members 30having lugs 31 provided with openings for the clamping bolt 32 adaptedto pinch the split ring made up of the parts 28 and 30 tightly about thetube 1. The upper member 27 of the frame or support may terminatelaterally in the inwardly directed hook members 33 (Fig. adapted to lapover the lateral margins of the tube 1 at the opening 2. Member 2'? alsocarries the lugs 36 in which is mounted a pin providing the axis 16 forthe detector lever 15.

The member 17 of the detector lever moves through an opening 13 in thetube 1. The abutment lever and detector lever may be providedI'GSPQCtiX'QlY with any suitable limit stops for determining theirnormal in ner position. Preferably (as shown) such stops take the formofintegral projections 3 and 15*, respectively engageable with the uppermember 27 of the frame or support and with the pivot screw 5.

In operation, assuming that a carrier having a solid head 10 is passingdown the tube 1 (Fig. 2) its lower end 10 will encounter and swing thedetector lever 18 downwardly and outwardly about the axis 16, the pin 20in turn driving the abutment 3 out wardly about the axis 5, theabutmentsurfaces 3*, 3 moving rapidly during the first part of the motion ofthelever through the wall of the tube, and out of the path of the carrier.Since this movement of these surfaces is substantially in the directionof their lengths, any possibility of engagement of the head of thecarrier by them is avoided. The pin 20 engages the lever arms 3, 3 at apoint relatively near to the axis 5 to enable slight movement of themember 17 and its pin 20 to result in a relatively large movement of theabutment. The rounded detector end 18 of lever 15, 17, now moves downwith the forward end of the carrier without substantially affecting thelateral position of the carrier until the end 18 leaves the tube throughthe lower opening 13. Further motion of the abutmentand the detectorlever is limited by engagement of the part 3 in notch 21. The parts thusremain until passage of the carrier permits the springs to restore themto the position of Figs. 1 and hen, however, a carrier having a hollowend 9 passes down the tube, such hollow end permits contact of thecarrier with the abutment without contact of the carrier with the end 18of the detector lever, so that the abutment lever remains in itsoperative position and the carrier is thrown laterally from the tube asabove described.

The same operations may be effected by the modified form of device shownin Figs. 5, 6 and 7 in which the detector lever is shown as a continuousarcuate shaped stamping or casting having the arm 17 and the contactpoint 18, and provided with a transverse actuating pin 20 The abutmentlever in this case may be a stamping 59 having an abutment surface at60, and provided with a cam slot 61 for the reception of the pin 20. Theabutment-lever 59 may be and preferably is duplicated as shown, tostraddle lever 15*, and may turn on or with the pivot pin 6. hen duplirated, the levers 59 are preferably keyed to the pivot pin. A singlelight spring 51 may be employed for restoring the parts to normalposition, for instance being coiled about the pin 16 forming the axisabout which the detector lever swings, and having one end 52 engagingthe edge of the lever 15 and having its other end 53 engaging the lug ofthe upper member 27 of the supporting frame. The operation of the deviceshown in Fig. 5 is substantially the same as that of the deviceillustrated in Fig. 1. Limitation of outward movement of the parts is bythe pin 20" and slot 61.

Other variations will be obvious to those skilled in the art. It shouldbe noted that in either form of the device as illustrated there are buttwo necessary moving parts. These can be made with suiiicient accuracyand of great rigidity and durability as castings, stampings ordrop-forgings. The axes upon which the respective parts turn at 5 travelcomprising a rigid and and 16 are fixedly related by the frame orsupport comprising the members 27, 28 and 29 so that ill-adviseddisplacement by the Workman is improbable.

To install a device of the type described, the openings 2, 12 and 13 maybe made with a saw anywhere along pipe line and the frame comprising themembers 27, 28 and 29 together with the operating levers mounted thereonmay be clamped in place. To facilitate such application of the frame,the binding members are preferably made thin enough to be bent open toadmit the full diameter of the tube whereupon they are closed togetherand the clamping bolt 32 may be inserted. Having adjusted the de vice,its position may be fixed if desired by soldering the vertical strut 29,or other part of the frame, to the tube 1..

I claim:

1. A selector device for assorting-despatch carriers of differentconfigurations moving in a given path, comprising a rigid abutmentmember normally projecting into contact with carriers moving in saidpath, and movable means actuable upon the approach of a carrier of givenconfiguration toward the abutment for removing said abutment from saidpath;

2. A selector device for despatch systems for diverting moving bodiesfrom their normal path of travel comprising a normally fixed abutmentmember normally PL'OJGUiJIDg into such path andengageablc by aportionice of a moving body at a point to one side of and in advance of thecenter of figure of such body whereby the center of figure thereof iscaused todescribe an arcuate path having such point of engagement anaxis.

3. A selector device for diverting pneumatic carriers from their normalcourse of unyielding member normally projecting into said path. andconstructed and arranged to engage a carrier moving along said path at apoint to one side of the center of said carrier.

at. Pneumatic despatch mechanism having therein, in combination withcarriers and a tube for directing them, a normally rigid abutment on oneside of the path taken by the center of the moving carriers, and therebyadapted to induce a carrier striking it to be thrown laterally of saidpath, and means for preventing contact with the abutment of a carrier ofa particular kind.

5. Pneumatic despatch mechanism having therein, in combination withcarriers and a tube for directing them, a normally rigid abutment on oneside of the path taken by the center of the moving carriers, and meansfor removing the abutment from the path of a carrier of a particularkind.

6. Pneumatic despatch mechanism havin therein, in combination withcarriers and a tube for directing them, a normally rigid abutment on oneside of the path taken by the center of the moving carriers, and meansactuated by a carrier of -a particular kind for removing the abutmentfrom the path of a carrier of that kind.

7 I11 combination with a pneumatic tube, selecting mechanism forasserting carriers moving along said tube comprising a normally rigidabutment placed to arrest the normal forward movement of carriers of oneconfiguration and thereby to convert the energy of translation of thecarrier into energy of rotation with consequent bodily motion of thecarrier laterally of the tube.

8. In combination with a pneumatic tube having a lateral dischargeopening, selecting mechanism for assorting carriers moving along saidtube in accordance with their re spective configurations, said mechanismcon prising a normally rigid abutmentplaced to arrest the normal forwardmovement of carriers of one configuration and thereby directly toconvert the energy of translation of the carrier into energy of rotationwith consequent bodily ejection of the carrier laterally from the tubethrough such discharge opening.

9. A selector device for assorting bodies of different configurationmoving successively in a predetermined path comprising a device forobstructing the free passage of bodies of one configuration whereby tocause their lateral diversion from said path, and means including adetector device engageable by an approaching body of anotherconfiguration and actuable thereby for positively moving saidobstructing device from said path.

10. An assorting device for bodies moving in a predetermined pathcomprising a movable abutment member normally projecting into said pathfrom and at one side of the center thereof, and so constructed andarranged as to tend to move further across said path under impact of abody thereon, a stop to prevent motion of the abutment under impact, andmeans wherebysaid abutment may be moved out of such path.

11. An assorting device for bodies moving in a predetermined pathcomprising a movable abutment member nomally projecting into said pathfrom and at one side of the center thereof, and so constructed andarranged as to tend to move further across said path under impact of abody thereon, a stop to prevent motion of the abutment under impact, andmeans adapted to be operated by a body of a certain configuration forpositively moving the abutment out of said path prior to the passage ofsaid body.

12. A selector device for changing the di rection of moving bodiescomprising an abutment lever on a pivot near one of its ends and at oneside of the path of motion of said bodies and having an abutment surfaceat its op osite-end, said surface lying crosswise of the length of saidlever and normally in said path, and between the pivot and anapproaching body. whereby the abutment lever normally receives theimpact of collision with the body in the direction of its length, and isremovable about its pivot radially in respect to the path taken by thecenter of said body.

13 A selector device for assorting bodies moving in a predetermined pathcomprising an abutment on a pivoted lever normally extendin in adirection substantially parallel to the path of movement of said bodies,the said abutment projecting transversely into said path for contactwith bodies moving therein, and a stop for preventing turning motion ofthe lever on its pivot under the force due to impact of one of thebodies striking the abutment and acting in the dircction of the lengthof the lever.

14-. A device for assorting pneumatic carriers normally traveling in onedirection in a tube, comprising a lever pivotally mounted outside saidtube and at a point closely adjacent thereto, said lever extending fromits pivotal point longitudinally of the outer surface of the tube in adirection opposite to the motion of the carrier, and an abutment elementcarried by the lever adjacent to its free extremity and extendinglaterally into said tube through an opening therein.

15. A mechanism for asserting carriers movin in a pneumatic tubecomprising an elongate abutment member projecting into said tube througha lateral opening therein, and lying substantially in the direction fromwhich the carriers approach, and supporting means for said abutmentmember, whereby upon impact 01 a carrier against said membersubstantially the entire force of the impactis transmitted along theabutment mem her to its supporting means.

16. Carrier separating devices for carrier despatch systems comprising anormallyfixed movable member having thereon a carrier-divertingabutment, a detector lever having a part in the path of the carriers,means supporting the abutment member and the detector lever for relativemovement, and means connecting the abutment member and said lever.whereby motion of one moves the other.

17. Carrier separating devices for carrier despatch systems comprising anormally-fixed movable member having thereon a carrier-divcrtingabutment, a detector lever having a part in the path of the carriers,means supporting the abutment memher and the detector lever for relativemovement, and means connectin the abutment member and said lever.whereby motion of one moves the other; in combination with carriers someof which are adapted to en-' gage the detector lever prior to reachingthe abutment, and some of which are adapted to engage and be diverted bythe abutment before moving the detector lever.

1S. Carrier separating devices for carrier despatch systems comprisingcarriers, a carrier-diveting abutment lever normally held in the path ofthe carriers; a detector lever; a frame on which the detector lever andthe abutment lever are pivoted respectively in such relation that acarrier encountering the detector lever will drive said detector leverfrom the path of the carriers, and a carrier encountering the abutmentlever will hold said abutment lever rigidly in its normal position; incombination with means connecting said levers for motion together awayfrom the path of the carriers.

19. Carrier separating devices for carrier despatch systems comprisingcarriers, a car-- rier-diverting abutment lever normally held in thepath ot the carriers; a detector lever; a frame on which the detectorlever and the abutment lever are pivoted respectively in such. relationthat a carrier encounterii detector lever will drive said detector tofrom the path of the carriers, and a encountering the abutment leverwill hold said abutmentlever rigidly in its norn'ial po sition; incombination with means connecting said levers for motion together awayfrom the path of: the carriers, means for limiting the motion of saidlevers, and means for returning them to their normal posi tion afteractuation.

20. A mechanism of the class described comprising an abutment member,adetector member, and means for pivotally supporting said members toswing about spaced axes and in opposite directions, and means wherebymotion of a detector member causes motion of the abutment member to aninoperative position.

21. Separator mechanism comprising a movable abutment member, a detectormember movable in a different path, and means whereby movement of thedetector member is positively transmitted to the abutment member.

22. Separator mechanism comprising a pivoted abutment member, a pivoteddetector member, and connections between said members whereby rotationof the detector member moves the abutment member positively and in anopposite rotative sense.

2-3. Separator mechanism comprising a movable abutment member, a movabledetector element, and connections between said member and elementconstructed and arranged to cause movement of the detector element toproduce movement of the abutment member of a relatively greaterampliother or said members -contacting with said sin-face, wherebymotion of the detector member is imparted to the abutment member. I

26. In con'ibination with a tube section forming a portion of theguidlng means for pneun'latic carriers, said tube section having alateral opening therein, means for laterally deflecting the carrierscomprising an abutment device normally rigidly held within the tube tobe struck by carriers oppesite said opening, said abutment beingconstructed and arranged to define an axis about which a carrier mayturn in passing outwardly from the tube through said open- 21. Incombination until a pneuamtlc tube having an opening in its side, anabutment device normally rigidly held within said tube at a pointsubstantially opposite said opening, said device comprising spacedsurfaces affording points of contact for an approaching carrier whichpoints define a chord of the circular end of the carrier 0' substantiallength.

28. In combination with a pneumatic tube, a pair of axially spacedretaining members engaging the tube, a longitudinally extending strutrigidly uniting the retaining members, and carrier selecting meanscomprising a detector supported by one of said retaining members and anabutment supported by the other retaining member.

- 29. In combination with a pneumatic tube having an opening in itsside, a frame comprising a retaining member provided with inwardlydirected books at its ends, said hooks being constructed and arranged toenga 'e the edges of the opening in the tube, and a carrier detectormember pivotally connected to the retaining member.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this sixth day of December, 1921.

ROBERT C. CHILD.

